RAMSEY TOBACCO COALITION
The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition (RTC) is comprised of 23 partner organizations and has been working to minimize the influence of the tobacco industry in Ramsey County since 1997. RTC has been a leader in: reducing youth access to tobacco; enforcing commercial tobacco-free school ground policies; adopting commercial tobacco-free policies for parks, youth clubs and youth-serving agencies; and adopting smoke-free workplace laws and point-of-sale ordinances in Ramsey County and St. Paul.
The project aims to reduce tobacco marketing and advertising practices by identifying the level and types of tobacco influences in Ramsey County; comparing industry influence between urban and suburban communities and low-, middle- and high-income neighborhoods within the city; and identifying ways these industry influences may violate the restrictions created by legal settlements and local, state and national laws.
RTC is assessing and advocating for change in the following areas:
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Point-of-sale advertising (in-store signs, promotions, outdoor signs, branded store fixtures and paraphernalia, etc.)
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Promotional and sales practices designed to target youth (self-service displays, power walls, "loosies," candy-flavored products, placement at children’s eye level, etc.)
RTC believes the tobacco industry uses all of these tactics to normalize commercial tobacco use and influence youth by shaping the environment in which they live. The industry specifically tailors these practices to reach low-income, 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth.
The Coalition uses our research findings to advocate for changes in industry behavior, enforcement of legal restrictions and, where possible and appropriate, policy change to reduce tobacco industry influences at the point of sale.
Want to get involved?
Contact Katie Engman at katie@ansrmn.org to join our email list and stay up-to-date on Ramsey Tobacco Coalition meetings and programs.